Handyman Services of New Cumberland

Review: My sinks had build of up "sm" from toothpaste which was causing a slow drain. I did't want to have to remove my pipes and scrub the insides so I wanted to have someone replace the sink stopper and pipes in order to clear out the drain and avoid the slow drain. Handyman Services of New Cumberland came out to do this service on a Saturday and charged me $200.00. Their handyman left and moments later we realized that the sinks were now draining even MORE slowly than before he replaced all the parts. In addition, he did not tighten the "J" piping which was causing water to leak underneath our sinks. We called the service office to tell them this and they sent their handyman back out to do the job correctly. When he came back the next day he tightened the pipes that he "forgot" to tighten upon installation, and told us there wasn't anything he could do about the now increased drain problem and that we should contact Roto Roooter to snake our pipes.We did just that several weeks later. When the [redacted] man came, he snaked our pipes, but stated that when The Handyman Services of New Cumberland replaced the piping he somehow caused damage to our draining system that forced air into the pipes and the [redacted] man doesn't know how to fix the damage that was done. their manager. I told her that we followed their advice and contacted [redacted] man and I relayed the information he gave me about the damage to the pipes. I requested my money back. At this point, Ms. R[redacted] began YELLING at me about the fact that I am completely wrong. She reminded me that they sent their technician out again (because he didn't do it correctly the first time) and that her business is impeachable and that they do not provide refunds. She wouldn't let me speak and was incredibly combative, rude, and unprofessional. In addition to ripping me off of a large quantity of money and damaging my piping, she screamed at me on a tirade for about six minutes till I hung the phone up. In summary, the service promised and paid for WAS NOT provided by The Handyman Services of New Cumberland. In fact, they made our drain/pipe situation in our bathroom sinks MUCH WORSE!Desired Settlement: I paid this company $200 for a service that was not provided. I am not even seeking compensation for the damage they inflicted on my piping, I just want my money back. I would also like to make other customers aware of these shoddy business practices.

Business

Response:

June 26, 2014[redacted] called us and stated that she had toothpaste and soap sm build up in 2 sinks. She didn't feel like cleaning the pipes herself and asked how much to come clean her pipe and change out the stopper to something that would stop hair from going down.My handyman removed her P trap; cleaned it out thoroughly, replaced back. He then removed the old stopper and tube and installed a new one with a grated drain so that it will catch any particles. That is all he did,We were not there to unclog drains. [redacted] advised the handyman that she had slow moving drains when he arrived, including the tub, however we were not there to unclog her drains. Even though she claims that her drain was worse, still had nothing to do with what we did. The problem already existed when we arrived.We recommended that she called [redacted] and try getting the rest of her plumbing snaked out. Everyone's house plumbing is vented anyway. They need the air pressure in order to drain. So the pipes will always have a little air in there. Not sure why [redacted] told her we damaged her pipes because we didn't, her plumbing is already in bad shape and draining poorly when we arrived, probably due to poor ventilation in her piping. This customer needs to contact the builder and have them correct the issues with her plumbing, because I don't believe she is vented properly.My deepest apologies to [redacted] for my outburst on the phone, it was unprofessional and won't happen again. We are not going to take the fall for mistakes the builder has made.In conclusion; we were not there to repair her poor draining pipes, we were there to clean a pipe and install a different kind of stopper in her sinks. We recommend she call the builder or plumber.Refund is denied.Sincerely:Lisa R

Consumer

Response:

[To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the response. If no reason is received your complaint will be closed Administratively Resolved]

Review: [redacted]

I am rejecting this response because:

Regards,

Megan Staub Regarding the response from Handyman Services of New Cumberland...At no time did I ever state that I had a slow drain in my bathtub, because I do not, in any of them. This is a falsification presented by this company to mitigate their responsibility in this matter. The drain problems were only in two of my bathroom sinks. We have no drain problems in our powder room sink, kitchen sink, or bathtubs, which is evidence to the fact that the problem is not one related to the manner in which the house's plumbing was built by the builders.Our drains worked without issue for several years as we purchased this house brand new. It was over time that they began to slow up from the build up of sm in the drain/pipes. I was very clear on this matter when requesting business from this company, and I did not expect or request plumbing work from them. I wanted the materials replaced in order to remove the clogs. If this was a job that The Handyman Services of New Cumberland could not complete, then they should have been clear on this issue and should not have accepted the assignment or my money.As was previously stated in my original complaint, this company's work man left without properly securing the pipes he replaced in both bathrooms, leaving them leaking. He had to return the next day to fix his shoddy work. In addition, after his "final" fix of our pipes, the pipes were far worse off in terms of draining than they were prior to having The Handyman Services of New Cumberland work on them. Given the handyman's original shoddy work that required him to come back and fix his poor service (as is acknowledged by Lisa R[redacted] the manager of The Handyman Services of New Cumberland ) in addition to the fact that upon his leaving our sinks were draining notably worse and more slowly than when he worked on them, makes me conclude that he caused some sort of damage during his work. This was confirmed by the [redacted] man, who was suggested to us for use by The Handyman Serivces of New Cumberland. Ms. R[redacted] is staunch in her stance that her workman is not the cause of this issue. However, how can she conclusively state this? She did not come out on site to evaluate the work. In addition, her workman had already done poor inaccurate work for us causing his return the very next day to fix the leaking problem.. It only make sense that this damage was caused by the workman sent out by The Handyman Services of New Cumberland based on the evidence of the situation. Given that this work caused increased damage, and that the original problem was not fixed, in fact it was worsened, I think a refund is a reasonable request. In do appreciate the apology from Ms. R[redacted] for her inappropriate conduct on the phone, as it was an unnecessary and very unpleasant way to start the day.

Business

Response:

Last and final response: I reject this customers letter, because it has NOTHING to do with the work we did.As stated in my previous letter, changing a drop tube and installing a screen does not in any way have anything to do with what ever may be wrong with her draining issues.Plumbing always has and always will need air for ventilation in order to drain properly. We did not damage this customers pipes regardless of what '[redacted]” may have told her, they were not there to see what the worker did, so they don't actually know what is going on either. There's no way to tell if [redacted] damaged her pipes and blaming it on us or not. With what we did, regardless of how many times the worker had to come back to tighten up pipes. There's no need for me to evaluate anything, the work performed is in no way connected to this customers draining issues. We were not there to fix your draining problem.This customer is trying to get a free job. Cost someone their job with 5 kids in the process.I have since fired the worker with the so called “shoddy” work, as stated by the customer and that's as far as I am willing to go.Refund is denied.Thank you.

Consumer

Response:

[To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the response. If no reason is received your complaint will be closed Administratively Resolved]

Review: [redacted]

I am rejecting this response because:As was previously stated, my draining issues became notably WORSE AFTER The Handyman of New Cumberland worked on my drains. This was pointed out the to shoddy worker who had to return a day later to fix the pipes he left leaking underneath my sinks after installation. He was at a loss to be able to explain the increased problem with the drains and suggested we call [redacted]. Clearly the damage occurred after the visit from The Handyman Services of New Cumberland worked on my sinks as the sinks were immediately much slower after their visit. This slowness was NOT resolved when their handyman came out again the next day.As for the firing of your employee, this is clearly your choice. I never requested his firing. I requested a refund for the poor work done on my sinks. Thus, this man's firing is on you and you alone. This request for a refund is more than reasonable given that I just want my money back and that I am not requesting further funds to fix the damage done to my bathroom sinks. In addition, if this worker and your company are not responsible for the damage done to my sinks, why would you feel the need to fire him? If you support the work of your company and if you stand behind the services provided, why would you feel the need to fire your workers, especially the one whose work you have so vehemently defended as impeachable? Your written statements are completely inconsistent with your behaviors and actions on this matter. As has been demonstrated by the damage done to my sinks, your outburst on the phone, and your continued contradictory communications and behavior, there is simply no professionalism to this company. I encourage all who read these exchanges to avoid using this business at all costs. It has cost me $200 to The Handyman Services of New Cumberland, $356 to [redacted], and an unnecessary amount of my time all wasted on The Handyman Services of New Cumberland who are completely unaccountable for their workers.

Regards,